Following several complaints from residents, tourists, municipal officials and emergency services regarding Baggies beach, a number of improvements have taken place in the area, reports ward 97 councillor, Andre Beetge.
The paved area next to the kiosk is now clearly marked ‘no entry’, allowing clear access for emergency vehicles.
Motorcycle parking bays have been demarcated along the wall of the kiosk and towards the left of the paved area, outside the area required for emergency access. No cars are allowed in this area.
Only vehicles displaying a ‘disabled’ sign will be accommodated in the parking demarcated as such towards the right of the paved area and also outside the immediate area required for emergency access. There is only space for one such parking and as the area can get extremely busy, it is requested that if possible, the disabled parking be used rather as drop-off and collect, as opposed to it being used as a parking for the entire day.
An information board against the kiosk wall, installed by Sapphire Coast Toti Tourism with public funding in December 2013, but defaced by youngsters, will be repaired as soon as funding is available, as it contains valuable information and emergency numbers.
Beach cleaners will remove chewing gum deposited all along the paved area and bricked wall.
“One stands astounded at being presented with evidence that it is our local youth who are responsible for parking their scooters and motorcycles in the disabled parking, for spitting and placing chewing gum and then finding it amusing when people step or sit in it, who tear at the sign boards installed by tourism in conjunction with the SAPS crime prevention strategy and who taunt and swear at law enforcement officials when confronted. Why do they find it necessary to do this to the very beach that they themselves frequent virtually every day?,” questioned Cllr Beetge.
“Law Enforcement and Metro Police are tasked to issue citations and if deemed necessary, impound vehicles that continue to ignore signage.
Let’s take pride in our town and what it offers to both the local community and our visitors.”
